Drink Deut at Sessions Public

Have you been to a new restaurant lately?  I’ve been to a few.  Let me guess – a twist on classic comfort food with farm to table ingredients?  I’m not sure, but I would guess that 98.2% of new restaurants are using this formula and I just don’t get it.  There are only so many burgers made from a cow raised on a green hill in paradise, with cheese from France, onions from a local farm and heirloom (a.k.a. ugly) tomatoes.  But don’t forget to charge $18 for it.  Then there is the propensity for duck tacos and short ribs… don’t get me wrong – I like them – but its been done.

I just wish that restauranteurs could just grow a creative gene in their body and come up with something new.  Some new concept, some new cuisine, some new way of doing it!  I’m pretty sure that there would be less competition than trying to make an $18 burger and $15 Mac and Cheese (hey, let’s add lobster or truffles and charge $16).  Don’t forget the sweet potato fries!

Speaking of, the following are a couple of drinks from a new restaurant I went to – Sessions Public in Point Loma.  While it does meet the stereotypes above, I have to say the food wasn’t half bad, and the drinks were awesome.

Drink 1: The N0. 2

• Crusoe Spiced Rum
• Ginger Liqueur
• Fresh Apple
• Jalapeno
• Lager

Served in a short glass over ice.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• A cocktail with beer… interesting.  Tastes like it was made with a Belgian wheat – not one of my favorites.
• There is a real Jalapeno kick in the aftertaste – I like it!
• I have to say, not a drink that you are going to want to drink when you need a refresher.

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 4/10
• Strength: 2/10
• Sweetness: 1/10
• This is a very different cocktail… not my first choice.

Drink 2: Berry Mint Mule

• Bourbon
• Berry
• Mint
• Lime
• Ginger Beer

Can’t tell you what “berry” actually means, but served in that same short glass over ice.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• Unlike the No. 2, this drink was definitely N0. 1 at the table – it was a hit.
• Sweetness and flavor of berries over spicy ginger beer.
• A great refreshing cooler – this is a winner.

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 8/10
• Strength: 4/10
• Sweetness: 6/10
• This is no generic farm-to-table recipe – this is a unique winner.

Caribbean Mule

I didn’t want to be outdone with only one variation – so number two the Caribbean Mule.  Sounds interesting, trade rum for the vodka and add some bitters and see what happens!

• 2.25 ounces of light rum (Bacardi)
• 0.75 ounce dark rum (Myers)
• 0.75 ounce lime juice
• 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters
• 3 ounces of ginger beer

Mix together in a tall collins glass, stir and serve.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• First taste is the dark rum, thick taste of raw sugar cane.  The lime is in the background, and the finish is all ginger beer, but the sweetness is cut by the bitters.
• I have never tasted a drink like this, rum and ginger is a fine combination.
• Not as smooth and light as the original, but a great flavor all its own.

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 8/10
• Strength: 6/10
• Sweetness: 5/10
• A great alternative to the original, although not my first choice.

Moscow Mule

I have a fan!  Today I received a note on Facebook from one of my good friends about the drink they were enjoying and how it wasn’t on the blog.  Now, apparently there were six Mule alternatives where they were, but presented here is the classic original.  Developed in the late 1940s, including the obligatory copper mug, as a way to promote Smirnoff vodka, it contributed to the fact that today that is a household name.  How does it taste?

• 2 ounces vodka (Smirnoff if you want the original)
• 0.5 ounce lime juice
• 4 ounces ginger beer
• Mint sprig and lime wedge for garnish

Combine everything over ice in a tall collins glass, stir and garnish with the mint sprig and lime wedge.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• Another great ginger beer cocktail, with a little sweetness of lime and the spiciness of the ginger.
• There is vodka in here to add the kick, but you wouldn’t know it.  This is an easy drinking long cocktail.
• The smell of the mint as you sip adds to the experience.

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 9/10
• Strength: 4/10
• Sweetness: 7/10
• A fine inspiration for a fine cocktail.

Light n’ Stormy

That Dark n’ Stormy went down well.  Really well.  The problem was that it leaves me with am empty glass!  Since I just made its’ sinister cousin – let’s try a Light n’ Stormy.

• 2 ounces rum (10 Cane)
• 4 ounces ginger beer
• 0.5 tablespoon of simple syrup

Same as before: glass, ice, liquor, stir, serve.  Garnish with a lime if desired.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• The 10 Cane certainly has the same flavor of cane sugar, but much less pronounced.  Almost smooth.
• Looks like a glass of sparkling white wine!
• A little lighter, maybe even more appropriate for a noon cocktail, but retains the balanced goodness of its darker friend.

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 8/10
• Strength: 4/10
• Sweetness: 6/10
• Almost as good as the original, but if given the choice, I’ll go with the classic.

Dark n’ Stormy

I am a day late on this one, but the storms have passed, and we are back to beautiful blue sky.  Or course, it is April 15 – Tax Day – so today is a dark day, and depending on how much you owe Uncle Sam, may be quite a stormy one.  The real reason I made this cocktail though is the Bundaberg Ginger Beer that has stared at me from the refrigerator waiting to be added to a cocktail (thanks Tony & Michelle)!

• 2 ounces dark rum (Myers)
• 4 ounces ginger beer (Bundaberg)
• 0.5 tablespoon simple syrup

Mix in a cocktail glass over ice and stir, if desired, garnish with a lime wedge.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• The heavy raw cane sugar taste of the Caribbean comes through, especially in the aftertaste.
• The ginger beer provides a spicy punch as you sip – delicious.
• More commonly made with ginger ale, I cannot image this cocktail tasting anywhere near as good.  Do yourself a favor and pick up some ginger beer!

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 9/10
• Strength: 4/10
• Sweetness: 6/10
• A great alternative summer cocktail to a rum and coke – so much more unique and satisfying.

Pimm’s Cup

A night of gaming and cocktails with the friends this evening.  Not just any friends, our rock star buddy is joining us this evening, so we broke out the fancy guitar ice cubes in his honor.  It also must be said that I did not mix this drink up – that fell to Michelle this evening.  Let’s see if she’s up to the davedrinks standard.

• Pimm’s No. 1
• Ginger Beer
• Lemonade

Mix in a rocks glass over ice.  Serve with a guitar ice-cube.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• Tonight is like drinking at my cousins’ wedding on the lawn of a country house.  But it’s not raining.
• Pimm’s is not something to sample alone, but with the lemonade and ginger ale – smooths it all out.
• Probably something to save for a summer’s day.

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 8/10 (1 point off ’cause I didn’t make it)
• Strength: 4/10
• Sweetness: 6/10
• I need to go find my bowler hat.